^^full leucistic bristlenose, subadult male
more photos here, more info at PlanetCatfish
25 September 2012
23 September 2012
random sounds 47: Psy (강남스타일)
GANGNAM STYLE (강남스타일) on iTunes
Psy's You Tube chanel notes: "... PSY is finally coming back with his 6th album 'PSY6甲'! The album's weighty title song 'Gangnam Style'... is characterized by its strongly addictive beats and lyrics, and is thus certain to penetrate the foundations of modern philosophy."
20 September 2012
so it begins: Harper's attack on reproductive rights
from LeadNow, September 2012:
In just 48 hours, our MPs will debate a Conservative motion that the Canadian Medical Association, representing 70,000 doctors, is calling a ‘backdoor’ attempt to criminalize abortion.[1,2]
In 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the abortion provision of the Criminal Code was unconstitutional. But this week, Parliament will be debating a motion that would threaten our reproductive rights - and the rights of our friends, daughters, mothers, sisters, and partners.[3,4,5]
Prime Minister Harper has chosen to allow this motion to go forward to a free vote in Parliament, so every MP must decide whether or not they will stand up for the rights that women and our allies have been fighting to protect for decades.
We need a huge public outcry to show our MPs that Canadians will not tolerate this covert attack on women’s rights.
Twenty-four years ago, Supreme Court Justice Wilson stated that governments in a democratic society must never interfere with a woman’s right to choose: “The decision whether or not to terminate a pregnancy is essentially a moral decision and in a free and democratic society the conscience of the individual must be paramount to that of the state.” – Supreme Court Justice Wilson[3]
The motion seeks to undermine the Supreme Court’s ruling by reopening the debate on the legal definition of a human being under the Criminal Code. High-profile members of Harper’s caucus have stated that the real goal of the motion is to attack women’s rights: “The ultimate intention of this motion is to restrict abortions at some development stage in Canada.” – Conservative Party whip, Gordon O'Connor[6]
This tactic has been used in the United States in a slow and relentless campaign to criminalize women’s reproductive rights and fan the flames of their culture war. Prime Minister Harper has publicly stated that he does not want to reopen this debate. Yet, while he exerts complete control over his own party, he has still chosen to let this covert attack on women’s rights go to a free vote that will test how Canadians react and open the door to attempts to criminalize abortion.
If enough of us speak out and contact our MPs right now, we can make sure this motion is decisively defeated and send a clear message that Canadians will defend our reproductive rights.
Sources:
- Tory MP concedes ‘abortion’ bill lacks support (Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/tory-mp-concedes-abortion-bill-lacks-support/article4549387/ - Doctors call on Ottawa to reject ‘backdoor’ attempt to recriminalize abortion (Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/doctors-call-on-ottawa-to-reject-backdoor-attempt-to-recriminalize-abortion/article4482594/ - R. v. Morgentaler, 1988 (Supreme Court of Canada)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._v._Morgentaler
http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/1988/1988canlii90/1988canlii90.html - Facing little support, MP says he’ll stand up for rights of unborn children ‘as long as I have breath’ (Calgary Herald)
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/canada/Facing+little+support+says+stand+rights+unborn+children+long+have+breath/7250891/story.html - For the full text of Stephen Woodworth MP’s motion, M-312, see:
http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=5437818 - MPs denounce motion to study when life begins (CBC)
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/04/26/pol-abortion-debate.html
Further Reading:
Canadian Medical Association votes against reopening abortion debate (Postmedia News)http://o.canada.com/2012/08/15/93534/
Protesters picket MP’s office over definition of life controversy (Kitchener-Waterloo Record)
http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/798467--protesters-picket-mp-s-office-over-definition-of-life-controversy
Harper may have to watch his back(bench) (Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/harper-may-have-to-watch-his-backbench/article4548668/
Counter Arguments Against Motion M-312 (Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada)
http://www.arcc-cdac.ca/action/M-312.html
The Right to Reproductive and Sexual Health (United Nations)
http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/women/womrepro.htm
17 September 2012
14 September 2012
...about oil tankers
from Dogwood Initiative, Sept. 13, 2012
"The Union of B.C. Municipalities is voting for a third straight year on a resolution related to oil pipeline and tanker proposals.
And this year’s resolution takes the cake.
Sponsored by the municipality of Saanich, Resolution A8 recognises that:
“A crude oil spill would have devastating and long lasting effects on British Columbia’s unique and diverse coast, which provides critical marine habitat and marine resources that sustain the social, cultural, environmental and economic health of coastal and First Nations communities”.
It calls on the Union of B.C. Municipalities to:
“Oppose projects that would lead to the expansion of oil tanker traffic through B.C.’s coastal waters…and urge the Premier of British Columbia, the Leader of the Official Opposition and members of the Legislative Assembly to use whatever legislative and administrative means that are available to stop [this] expansion of oil tanker traffic.”
...This would be the strongest statement in defence of our coast ever passed collectively by B.C.’s local governments. It would signal opposition not only to Enbridge and Kinder Morgan's proposals, but any other project folks in the oil patch can dream up to bring more crude oil tankers through B.C. waters.
You can help pass this motion... Please don't demand, just say "It would be awesome if you did this." The more love and support our local politicians receive to support this resolution the higher the chance it will actually pass.
That's it. One important step and you help make history. "
Click this link to ask your local mayor and councillors to support Resolution A8
>(Storm 2012-09-14, at 3:56 PM)
Dear Mayor Moore and the City Councillors of Port Coquitlam,
The municipality of Saanich has put forward a resolution (A8) for consideration at the upcoming Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) convention. The resolution articulates a position that many British Columbian's -myself included -support.
As a voting resident of Port Coquitlam I urge you to support the resolution.
regards... (Storm)"
>(Brad West 2012-09-14 at 3:57 PM subject Resolution A8 and oil tanker traffic)
"Thanks for your email. I feel strongly about this issue as well and will be supporting the resolution.
Thanks again, Brad West"
Councillor Darrell Penner, a founding member of Hyde Creek Streamkeepers, was also quick with his reply:
> (Darrell Penner 2012 09 14 at 6:41 PM subject Resolution A8 and oil tanker traffic)
"Hi yes I am going to support Res A8 thanks for you comments.
Darrell Penner"
update two: September 20, 2012 No reply from the Mayor or other councillors.
"The Union of B.C. Municipalities is voting for a third straight year on a resolution related to oil pipeline and tanker proposals.
And this year’s resolution takes the cake.
Sponsored by the municipality of Saanich, Resolution A8 recognises that:
“A crude oil spill would have devastating and long lasting effects on British Columbia’s unique and diverse coast, which provides critical marine habitat and marine resources that sustain the social, cultural, environmental and economic health of coastal and First Nations communities”.
It calls on the Union of B.C. Municipalities to:
“Oppose projects that would lead to the expansion of oil tanker traffic through B.C.’s coastal waters…and urge the Premier of British Columbia, the Leader of the Official Opposition and members of the Legislative Assembly to use whatever legislative and administrative means that are available to stop [this] expansion of oil tanker traffic.”
...This would be the strongest statement in defence of our coast ever passed collectively by B.C.’s local governments. It would signal opposition not only to Enbridge and Kinder Morgan's proposals, but any other project folks in the oil patch can dream up to bring more crude oil tankers through B.C. waters.
You can help pass this motion... Please don't demand, just say "It would be awesome if you did this." The more love and support our local politicians receive to support this resolution the higher the chance it will actually pass.
That's it. One important step and you help make history. "
Click this link to ask your local mayor and councillors to support Resolution A8
~~~
updates: This afternoon I sent an email to my local Mayor and council, and almost instantly received a reply from Port Coquitlam City Councillor Brad West:>(Storm 2012-09-14, at 3:56 PM)
Dear Mayor Moore and the City Councillors of Port Coquitlam,
The municipality of Saanich has put forward a resolution (A8) for consideration at the upcoming Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) convention. The resolution articulates a position that many British Columbian's -myself included -support.
As a voting resident of Port Coquitlam I urge you to support the resolution.
regards... (Storm)"
>(Brad West 2012-09-14 at 3:57 PM subject Resolution A8 and oil tanker traffic)
"Thanks for your email. I feel strongly about this issue as well and will be supporting the resolution.
Thanks again, Brad West"
Councillor Darrell Penner, a founding member of Hyde Creek Streamkeepers, was also quick with his reply:
> (Darrell Penner 2012 09 14 at 6:41 PM subject Resolution A8 and oil tanker traffic)
"Hi yes I am going to support Res A8 thanks for you comments.
Darrell Penner"
update two: September 20, 2012 No reply from the Mayor or other councillors.
12 September 2012
7 September 2012
in the nursery: Micropoecilia picta 'red'
^^glorious but difficult, M. picta is not a beginners fish. Warm, very hard, very clean water plus minimum 20 gallon aquarium, live foods and dense plant cover with many breaks in line-of-sight are necessary to maintain this species.
The mating behaviour of males is fascinating if relentless, even for a livebearer. Males are very aggressive towards other males and in their pursuit of females; females aggressively maintain their own hierarchy.
some shots of adults here
3 September 2012
swords into plough shears
^^Cameroon Fan shrimp (Atya gabonensis) have forsaken their claws for filter-feeding filiments
^^fan shrimp require strong water flow, climbing surfaces and extra hiding spots
^^individuals will Jockey for the best flow areas. Like other members of the family,
Cameroon fan shrimp larvae require brackish to full salt water to survive.
Crustaforum has a good thread on breeding similar shrimp here.
^^ephemeral after the molt, it takes a few days for the colours to manifest
further reading:
Aspects of the Biology of the Gabon Shrimp Atya gabonensis, Giebel 1875 in the Cross River, Nigeria
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